Alabama shuts out LSU in BCS Championship

Alabama head coach Nick Saban holds up the crystal ball trophy after the BCS championship game. This was his third national title.

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WAFB) -

In the "Rematch of the Century" between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, the Crimson Tide won the BCS national championship 21-0. It was the first shutout in BCS title game history.

Running back Trent Richardson scored on a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter, making it the first touchdown in the two games the teams played this season.

Kicker Jeremy Shelley made five field goals in the contest. Shelley connected from 23, 34, 41, 35 and 44 yards.

The first field goal was in the first quarter. It was set up by a 49-yard punt return by Marquis Maze. Maze injured his leg on the play and didn't return for the rest of the game.

Shelley's second field goal came late in the second quarter and the third was just before halftime. He made his fourth field goal on Alabama's first drive of the second half. His fifth came at the end of the third quarter.

LSU was only able to get five first downs in the game and didn't cross midfield until the fourth quarter. The Tigers were held under 100 yards in offense.

"Obviously, I told my team we didn't get it going offensively at all," LSU head coach Les Miles said. "Defense was on the field a long time. I give credit to our opponent. Great playing. They kept the ball and it became very difficult to get first downs. And with time, certainly, it spoke to victory for them."

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson had only 53 yards passing and one interception. Miles was asked if he considered putting in backup QB Jarrett Lee.

"We did consider Jarrett Lee. But we felt like with the pass rush that we were getting that we needed a guy that could move the seat and not sustain that pass rush," Miles said.

Alabama, on the other hand, gained nearly 400 yards of total offense. Quarterback AJ McCarron threw for 234 yards.

He made smart decisions, didn't take any chances to turn the ball over, did the things he had to do to get points on the board," said safety Eric Reid. "As a defense, we just didn't do quite enough to stop it."

"I think AJ did a good job of managing the game and getting out of the pocket," said cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. "It was pressure on him. He definitely extended a couple of plays. And we wish we could have had those plays back. But I think we did a good job on defense, but they played a good game today."

This was LSU's first loss in a BCS bowl game and the first loss in the Superdome since the Tigers fell to Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl after the 1986 season.

After the game, Alabama was named No. 1 in the AP poll and LSU was No. 2.